Getting & Giving the Low Down on Improv in the UK...

Grand Theft Impro Redux - from June 5

Veteran comedy improvisers Grand Theft Impro are back, continuing their sixth sell-out year on the London stage with a summer season starting from June 5th.

The core team of Phil Whelans, Drew Leavy and Dylan Emery will be joined every week by guests - including veteran GTI-ers like Alan Marriott and Lesley Albiston - but also other stars from the world of impro and comedy, such as Phill Jupitus, Tony Slattery, Andre Vincent, Suki Webster and Niall Ashdown.

GTI has been Pick of the Week for the Independent on Sunday, Jim Sweeney's Time Out Comic's Choice and London Lite's 'Must Go' show.

What: Grand Theft Impro - fearlessly inventive, exciting and funny sketches, skits and songs, all made up on the spot, all inspired by audience suggestions.
When: Every Thursday from June 5 to July 31 2008
What Time: 8:30pm - 10:15pm (doors open 8:15pm)
Where: Upstairs at The Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place, London W1T 1DG, tel 020 7580 1585
How Much: £5
Bookings: e-mail tickets@grandtheftimpro.com or phone the venue on 020 7580 1585
Website: www.grandtheftimpro.com

Filmpro from the Institute - May 21

...Clear the gate! Camera speed! Start being pleased! We're back with another Film inspired impro show...

...Wednesday May 21st, Canal Cafe Theatre, Delamere Terrace, Little Venice, nearest tube Warwick Avenue on the Bakerloo line, 21.30, £5/£6...

...We'll be riding the French new wave, landing on a Winterbottom, hoping we don't get in a Fassbinder, and of course that you give an Orson Welles about it all...

...Well you've got to pick a Truffaut or two...

...The Institute...

Shotgun Impro - May 21

Shotgun Impro - fast-paced sketches & scenes with no rehearsal or script - featuring Jane Colenutt, Jon Cohen, Kylie Butler, Nick Murphy, Jonny Freeman, Fiona Hardingham, Beth Medley, and Ben Simmons

May 21st - doors open at 8pm, show starts at 8.30pm
£5 Entry (£3 concessions)

The Miller of Mansfield pub, 96 Snowsfields, SE1 3SS
Nearest tube: London Bridge, Borough
Nearest rail: London Bridge, Blackfriars, Waterloo

Melting Pot - May 15

MELTING POT THEATRE COMPANY presents MELTING POT, a new season of improvised shows, Theatre Created in the Heat of the Moment, based on five suggestions from the audience: what do you want to see a play about?

Returning to a new and larger venue, this Harold-like show explores what is important to the audience.

Clerkenwell Theatre, Exmouth Market Community Centre, 24 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QE (Nearest tubes, Angel & Farringdon)
8pm Thursdays
May 15, 29; June 12, 26; July 10, 24

£7/£5 on the door

Stories from Scratch - May 20,21,22,23

The Pleasance has let Scratch Impro back into their Studio theatre for a four-night run. Scratch unveil their new Story format, creating an hour long playlet from audience suggestions.

Tickets £8/£6
May 20,21,22,23
The Pleasance Theatre, North Road, London

Book tickets here.

The Carneval is back - 30 May

For the ladies and gentlemen about town, we present the return of sell-out show, Carnival des Phénomènes – an evening of extravagant and daring 'Whose Line Is It Anyway’ style spectacles.

An entire improvised musical from SCRATCH
“Side-splittingly funny” The Guardian

Eastern block double act DMITRI AND VASSILY
“Grab the chance to catch them live” The Guardian

Plus murder mystery from DEAD MAN IN A BOX, super healing from SUPER TROOP, music and side shows and much revelry besides.

This excellent evening takes place on Friday the 30th May at The Mission Room on Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE.

Reduced priced tickets available here, or to the outrageously dressed.

Also, see the Carnies' latest review here.

Made Up Like Tarts - May 14

An evening of improvised comedy from Ben Chittick, James Lovelock, Roderick Millar, Duncan Pearse, Sophie Pumphrey and Lucy Soutter with Phil Lunn on keyboard.

Wenesday May 14. Doors open at 7:40pm. Tickets £5 on the door.

The Bath House Pub, 96 Dean St, London

Melting Pot returns - May 8

A message from Melting Pot:

Hello, and welcome to the new season of improvised theatre from Melting Pot.
Come and see our lovely new venue! It's the Clerkenwell Theatre, 24 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QE. Nearest Tube: Angel or Farringdon.
Tickets are £7 (£5 concessions).

Melting Pot Theatre is a London based dramatic improvisation theatre company. We create a mixture of short plays, scenes and monologues improvised on the night.

You will never see the same show twice.

The Institute Sitcopro - May 7

...wants a pilot...

...Join us for the world premiere of two brand new sitcoms...that we haven't actually written yet...

...Wednesday May 7th, Canal Cafe Theatre, Delamere Terrace, Little Venice, nearest tube Warwick Avenue on the Bakerloo line, 21.30, £5/£6...

...With some audience suggestions, a helpful director, and a lot of multiple characters we will create two sitcoms as we go along. Probably involving some amnesia, evil identical twins, canned laughter (yours) and a lot of silliness...

...You can't watch anymore re-runs of My Family, watch funny happen instead...


...The Institute...

Far Games News and Workshops

This month Far Games interview is with the legendary improvisation director and coach Garry Schwartz who learned with Viola Spolin. Enlightening! Read it at: http://www.imprology.com/community.html

Who started what in the world of impro? Test your knowledge with this early genesis timeline: http://www.imprology.com/workshops.html

All current beginners workshops are full but still a couple of places in the evening improvers classes which started on the 30 of April, running for 5 more Wednesdays: http://www.imprology.com/bookings.html#G200641

Advanced improvisation workshop long weekend on the 24, 25 and 26 May: